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<br />~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />YampaIWhite River Basin <br /> <br />Elkhead Reservoir Enlargement: Construction activity is commencing to enlarge the storage capacity <br />of Elkhead Reservoir and will continue through the spring of2007. <br /> <br />The Colorado River Water Conservation District (Colorado River District) awarded a $17.8 million <br />contract to Ames Construction to proceed with enlargement of the dam and related construction at <br />Elkhead Reservoir. The enlargement project will create 12,000 acre-feet of new water storage to improve <br />streamflows in the Yampa River for endangered fish and to provide additional water for the residents of <br />the Yampa River Basin. Enlargement construction activities include improvements to the reservoir's dam, <br />spillway, outlet works, recreation facilities and adjacent county roads. <br /> <br />Enlargement construction activities will impact the entire reservoir site, prompting closure ofthe reservoir <br />and surrounding State Park lands until Spring 2007. The closure is a public safety and construction site <br />safety issue and the area will be patrolled by local law enforcement agencies. <br /> <br />When the State Park reopens in 2007, visitors will find new roads, campgrounds, boat ramps and other <br />improvements funded by the enlargement project and the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor <br />Recreation. <br /> <br />The reservoir's elevation has been lowered over the course of the last several months to permit <br />construction to begin, and will remain at a reduced level throughout the construction process. The first <br />stage of construction will be the partial demolition of the existing spillway and the installation of a screen <br />to keep non-native fish species in the reservoir. <br /> <br />Preventing escapement of non-native fish species, such as smalhnouth bass and northern pike, from <br />Elkhead Reservoir will preserve future fishing opportunities in the reservoir and will avoid conflicts with <br />endangered and other non-native fish species in the Yampa River. <br /> <br />More information on the Elkhead Enlargement Project is available on the web at www.crwcd.org/elkhead. <br /> <br />The District has been gearing-up internally for making progress payments, obtaining reimbursement, <br />accounting, and so forth. In efforts to assure everyone involved is comfortable with how things are <br />proceeding they are trying to schedule a meeting the week of Mar. 21 to discuss these issues. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Agency News <br /> <br />OWC Chief Resigns: Brad Lundahl, Section Manager for the Conservation and Drought Planning <br />Section, has tendered his resignation, which will become effective on March 25, 2005. We will try to fill <br />the position as soon as possible. <br /> <br />During Brad's time at with the Board he: <br />. Chaired the State Drought Task Force; <br />. Stewarded Colorado's first Drought Assessment; <br />. Undertook a Covered Entities Initiative; <br />. Drafted and worked to pass HB-04-1365, Regarding Water Conservation by Water Providers; and, <br />. Has brought us proposed Guidelines to Implement HB 1365. <br /> <br />Good luck Brad! <br /> <br />New Office Coordinator: We have hired Dena Crist to be our new Office Coordinator. She previously <br />worked at CU-Boulder. She has much experience that will be beneficial to the office. Help me welcome <br />her. <br /> <br />31 <br />